The result? As with most things in life, do what's best for you and follow your instincts. Read when it's right for you to read, and write when it's right to write!

Now, for today's topic: Waiting. Don't you hate it? For a bus, a letter, a phone call, a decision... When you're waiting for something in life, you're not in the driver's seat. Whatever the "thing" is you're waiting for takes the wheel.

In the case of writing, you may be waiting to hear back on a query, partial, full, word from an agent or editor, or you may have your work out on submission and be waiting to hear if it has sold. In all of these cases, you are in the submissive state of handing your power over to someone else.

What got me thinking about waiting and being (or not being) behind the driver's wheel is twofold. First of all, I took the picture at the top of this post yesterday when my son and I had lunch at the new Olive Garden in town. Yes, we have a new Olive Garden and that, in itself, was well worth waiting for. The puppy was in a car in front of the restaurant. He seemed to be waiting, too. (Most likely for the shrimp scampi and all-you-can-eat bread sticks and salad, and who could blame him, really?) Secondly, I'm waiting back to hear from a specific agent on a specific submission. I have other submissions out as well, but this one has a time-frame wrapped around it, which makes it far more nerve-wracking.

My question to you is this: What do you do when you're waiting for news? If you're a control freak like me, how do you get past the doubts, the fears, the clock ticking ever-so-slowly yet loud as thunder in your ear?

I've never been good at waiting. I blame it on my Brooklyn DNA. Really, it's not my fault. I can't help that I was born there. In the meantime, I write, tweet, play spider solitaire, write a new blog post, and check my email "in box" like a hundred million times an hour. (Native NY'ers have a reputation for exaggerating. No idea where that comes from.)

Oh my goodness, this is a post for me today. I'm waiting. It seems like a common theme in this industry. It is sooooo hard. What do I do? I fret and complain and whine. :) No, I write and read and read blogs. :)

Not being in control is really hard. I hate waiting (and cleaning). I find the best thing to do when I am waiting is to find something else to do. two weeks ago I discovered the (new to us) town we live in has an arts center. I started vlunteering there for a couple hours a week. I spent about twenty years teaching school...These three to five year olds are teaching me tons. Plus they are a great distraction....Critiquing someone else's work does the trip too.

It gives you a whole different perspective. Today I learned that if your big sister is having her birthday party at the Holiday Inn, it's really exciting. Exciting enough to make you run around the room and not know what art activities you want to do. Plus, I learned that I'm not the only person who doesn't like stuff on her hands. (Literally not figuratively) :)

My first full request tweaked my brain to a disturbing degree and I was obsessed. And things sparked the anxiousness, like hearing that the agent was reading my manuscript right then and wanted a bio. And then time passed, and I didn't hear anything, followed up and was told that I would hear soon.

It's now been about ten months and I've pretty much given up on ever hearing back, but that experience broke my obsessive streak. I'll hear back when I hear back and with the fulls and partials out now, I just don't think about them. It's weird but I am really grateful for all the crazy on my first full because I've learned now how to let the panic go and work every day on my writing.

But my advice isn't very helpful since I would never wish this experience on you and without it, I'd still be on the manic side. ;)

Alan, Phone booth? I'm sorry. What's a phone booth? Kidding. I actually saw one by the side of a highway recently and thought, whoa - that is like so totally old school! You're welcome over here anytime, my friend, and exercising? Great concept. I'm heading to the club today. ;-)

1. Check email obsessively. 2. Bake. 3. Exercise.4. Work on something new! <--this one is actually a productive, and GOOD idea, because sooner or later you'll need something new. I wrote Near Witch while my first book was on sub.

I just blogged about this very same thing.I have a manuscript out on submission with my agent right now. It hasn't been long, I could be bugging him (but I'm not), I'm very politely leaving him alone to get on with it and driving my husband crazy with my insecurity, and most of all, I immediately started working on something new. I would be much more insane without someplace to direct all of my nervous energy.

Victoria, Good for you! I'm all about writing something new, but first I need to do a little more editing on my most recent ms. It's all good, though. When you're concentrating on your work, all is well in the world. (Excuse me while I go check my email.)

Debra, I am so keeping my fingers crossed for you. We have similar DNA. Mine's from Queens, NY. Hate hate hate waiting. I am so impatient. But I've learned to shift my energy and attention to other things. That's all I can suggest, because it is impossible not to be emotionally attached to the outcome. Try telling yourself, if not this, than something better!Blessings,karen

The mom said she reserved connecting rooms for the sleep over. It's during the week, so it won't be very busy (here in rural Iowa). The kids will have the pool, and game room to play in. The mom doesn't have to worry about cleaning house before or after the party. I think it's a brilliant idea.

Karen, My mom grew up in Queens and I lived there for a while when I was little. It's all the same. New Yorker's are much nicer than we get credit for, but patience? Nope. Not in the DNA. Thanks for you kind wishes. Everything will be as it's meant to be. I just need to do my yoga breathing. ;-)

No question waiting bites. I'm in the editor cycle at the moment and my agent is fabulous about keeping me in the loop--but still the last three weeks have felt like a lifetime.

I write when my characters have something to say, and when they don't, I read. What I've found to be a universal truth is the more I stress about hearing something, the longer it takes. When I finally give up obsessing about it, that's when things start to happen.

Lisa, "What I've found to be a universal truth is the more I stress about hearing something, the longer it takes. When I finally give up obsessing about it, that's when things start to happen."

How true. Giving up obsessing is the key. Distractions, usually in the form of writing, work best. The torture of writers isn't in the writing (usually). It's the waiting - the area that's out of our control.

You have Brooklyn DNA, cool. I had an author friend tell me when I first started writing, "You're going to learn to have patience."

I have "0" patience. I can't stand waiting in line and most times won't. But forewarned is forewarned.

As for how I get through the doubts, worries and the horrid wait otherwise known as patience; I keep writing. It can't hurt. The more you write the more fluid and easily it becomes. Sooner or later you're bound to hit the nail on the head, right?

As for reading. I think reader's make better authors. I know since I've been writing, I constantly study what I'm writing. After all it worked to get them published. (Hugs)Indigo